Expats in the Gulf States fearing an ongoing coronavirus limbo

Expatriate professionals living and working in the Gulf States fear becoming trapped in a never-ending coronavirus limbo.

From covid-19 containment strategies through worldwide lockdowns to the withholding of salaries, curfews, containments and the threat of redundancies, expats nowadays could be forgiven for feeling massively stressed. It’s the same sad story in the Gulf States as it is in other favourite expat destinations, especially as it seems the non-Western world is beginning to blame its resident expats for the spread of the virus. Whether blue or white-collar, immigrants are now the target for blame in many destinations.

In Kuwait, a Gulf State not known for its friendliness towards foreign professionals, a lockdown exclusively involving expat-populated residential developments is being considered and is said to be based on a rise in coronavirus cases in expatriate districts. Qatar is now confining tens of thousands of blue-collar expats in Doha’s industrial district after several dozen tested positive for the viral infection. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are now warning inadequate sanitation and cramped housing conditions are endangering blue-collar migrant workers all across the region.

According to one expat engineer from Pakistan, now living in Qatar, his area’s lockdown began 10 days ago and there are no estimates as to how long it will last. Inadequate amounts of foodstuffs are being provided by the government, but the cramped accommodation is proving a rich breeding ground for the virus. It seems the only Gulf State acting compassionately towards its expats and migrant workers is Saudi Arabia, as its ruler has announced all medical costs related to covid-19 infections will be covered by the Royal house.